Hydrogen Reality XVI: Not Every Energy Project Needs Hydrogen
At one of my recent meetings, we discussed the possibilities for using one particular site. There are halls, land and a photovoltaic power plant available.
One of the participants looked at me and asked:
“I would like to store energy. Ideally in hydrogen. Do you know of any technology that can produce hydrogen economically?”
But my first question was not which technology to use.
I asked:
“And what will you do with the hydrogen?”
There was silence for a moment.
Then I continued.
“Who will be your customer?”
Because you can have hydrogen produced very cheaply. But if you do not know who will buy it, it will never become an economically viable project.
And this is precisely where, in my view, real development begins.
Not with technology.
But with understanding the entire site.
What is located in the surrounding area?
What companies operate there?
What are their needs?
What energy sources are available?
How much energy will need to be stored?
And only then comes the question:
Which combination of technologies will be technically and economically most suitable for this particular project?
During the discussion, another interesting opinion was expressed.
For your specific case, battery storage may currently be the most economically advantageous solution.
And you know what?
I agreed.
Because the goal is not to build a hydrogen project at any cost.
The goal is to design a solution that makes both technical and economic sense.
In some places, it will be battery storage.
Elsewhere, hydrogen.
And in some places, a combination of both.
That is precisely why, in my view, a good project does not start with technology.
It starts with asking the right questions.
I focus on the development of cross-border energy projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Kristýna Váchalová
Business Development | Cross-Border Energy Projects | Hydrogen Strategies | HyConnect
From Vision to Implementation: How the Czech-German Hydrogen Platform Was Created
A simple phrase that I often follow in my work. Because many good ideas are created. But they only gain real value when we manage to turn them into concrete steps, connect the right people and start implementing them.
At the beginning of this year, the idea emerged to take the Hydrogen Platform of the Innovation Centre of the Karlovy Vary Region beyond the borders of the region – and, in fact, beyond the borders of the Czech Republic as well.
The Karlovy Vary Region borders Bavaria and Saxony. On both sides of the border, we have companies, research organisations, technologies, know-how and concrete projects. So why not create a platform that connects the Czech and German sides?
Several months passed between the initial idea and its implementation. The preparation was not easy, and the meeting took place later than we had originally planned.
We expected approximately thirty participants. In the end, on 17 September, almost fifty of us from both the Czech and German sides came together in Hranice near Aš.
The level of interest itself therefore exceeded our original expectations.
People First. Projects Second.
The day began with informal networking in the beautiful premises of the library in Hranice near Aš. And once again, it became clear just how important face-to-face meetings are.
Networking is not just about exchanging business cards. It is a space for discussing concrete projects and establishing new contacts, but also an opportunity to get to know existing partners in a slightly different way than during a business meeting.
And sometimes, a conversation like this creates a connection that we would never have planned in advance.
One of the people I met there, for example, was a representative involved in the development of cross-border tourist and cycling routes between Czechia and Bavaria. At first glance, a topic far removed from hydrogen.
Within a few minutes, however, we were discussing cross-border railways, tourist trains, connections between spa towns, bicycle and e-bike rental services, as well as connecting transport services.
Suddenly, it became clear that this topic also fits very naturally into the broader concept of cross-border mobility.
This is precisely why platforms like this make sense.
From Individual Topics to Joint Projects
The morning networking was followed by a professional programme that brought together representatives of the Karlovy Vary Region, Bavaria and Saxony, companies, research organisations and regional organisations.
We talked about regional energy, hydrogen, infrastructure, mobility, research and education, as well as concrete technologies – from geothermal energy and natural hydrogen to hydrogen production from biomass.
Another important topic was the future cooperation between the Karlovy Vary Region and Bavaria.
And this is not only about hydrogen. It is about how to better connect energy, infrastructure, mobility, research, education and know-how across the border.
In my final presentation, I therefore introduced cross-border project opportunities and the concept that we are working on together with our Bavarian partners.
Its principle is simple:
A border should not divide energy systems that can function together.
And Finally, Reality
After the presentations, we visited Farma Trojmezí, where we moved from visions and project concepts to the practical use of hydrogen.
In fact, it was a symbolic conclusion to the entire day.
Organising the Czech-German Hydrogen Platform was demanding. But in my view, the result exceeded our expectations.
Not only in terms of the number of participants, but above all because of what began to happen between them during a single day.
New contacts were established. New topics were opened. Projects were connected. And discussions began about further concrete meetings and opportunities for cooperation.
And that is exactly what I believe a platform should do.
Not just talk about the future.
But connect the people who can create it together.
From vision to implementation.
I focus on the development of cross-border energy projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Kristýna Váchalová
Business Development | Cross-Border Energy Projects | Hydrogen Strategies | HyConnect
Hydrogen Reality XV: Why Should Energy Projects Recognise National Borders?
Over the past few months, I have been spending my time alternately in meetings in Czechia, Bavaria and Saxony. As a result, I find myself thinking more and more often about one simple question.
Energy knows no borders. So why should projects?
When we talk about a hydrogen project, most people imagine an electrolyser, a refuelling station or hydrogen vehicles.
In reality, however, hydrogen is only one part of a much larger whole.
Energy is not only about producing electricity or hydrogen. It is about finding connections. About how to connect energy production, transport, industry, education and the needs of regions in a way that makes sense as a whole.
This is precisely where, in my view, the most interesting projects emerge.
We often think within the boundaries of one city, one region or one country. But neither energy nor economic development recognises national borders.
If there is a partner just a few kilometres across the border facing similar challenges, why not look for joint solutions?
It is not only about energy.
It is about better connections between cities and regions, more accessible transport, easier travel, the development of spa tourism and tourism in general, cooperation between companies, education, research and new employment opportunities.
Suddenly, it is no longer about one project.
Something much bigger begins to emerge.
This is exactly what I am experiencing today in my cooperation with partners in Bavaria and Saxony. Every additional meeting confirms to me that the most interesting opportunities often do not emerge within individual countries, but precisely where we look for common goals.
Perhaps that is why the greatest challenge is not developing a new technology.
The real challenge is to connect people, ideas and projects in a way that creates long-term benefits.
And perhaps today, it is precisely at borders that new opportunities, rather than barriers, are emerging.
I focus on the development of cross-border energy projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Kristýna Váchalová
Business Development | Cross-Border Energy Projects | Hydrogen Strategies | HyConnect
Hydrogen Reality XIV: A Hydrogen Project Does Not Start with Hydrogen Production. It Starts with the Customer.
Recently, I had an interesting discussion with someone who was looking for a new use for an unused site.
He had space available.
He had an idea for producing energy from photovoltaics.
And he was also considering hydrogen production and storage.
At first glance, it sounded like the beginning of an interesting hydrogen project.
Nevertheless, my first question was:
👉 Who will be your customer?
And this is precisely where the discussion paused for a moment.
I often encounter situations where the discussion about hydrogen starts with the technology.
We will have photovoltaics.
We will have an electrolyser.
We will produce hydrogen.
But in my view, that is not enough.
Because even before selecting the technology, we need to know:
- who will use the hydrogen,
- how much they will need,
- how regular the offtake will be,
- and what price they will be willing to pay.
Only when we know the future customers does it make sense to start designing the project itself.
Perhaps it will be transport.
Perhaps industry.
Perhaps agriculture.
Perhaps a combination of several different offtakers.
Each of these options requires a different amount of hydrogen, different infrastructure and often a different production method.
During the discussion, we also came to the question of production.
If the project is based solely on photovoltaics and an electrolyser, production depends on the weather and the availability of energy.
That in itself does not necessarily have to be a problem.
But it needs to be taken into account when designing the economics of the project.
That is why I am convinced that the future will not be based on only one technology.
👉 The key will be a suitably designed technology mix.
One that makes it possible to combine different energy sources and different hydrogen production methods according to local conditions.
And this is where another important question arises.
What resources do we have available in the surrounding area?
Not only sun or wind.
But also other inputs that can be used for hydrogen production.
Every region has different possibilities.
And every successful project should be based precisely on them.
The longer I work with hydrogen projects, the more one thing is confirmed for me:
A hydrogen project does not start with an electrolyser.
Nor does it start with production technology.
👉 It starts with understanding the needs of the future customer.
Only then does it make sense to look for the right technology, the right project size and the right resources.
I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Customer first. Technology second. Not the other way around.
Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development
Hydrogen Reality XIII: The Greatest Competitive Advantage? Starting Project Preparation Earlier Than Others.
Recently, I had an interesting discussion with a representative of a company that is preparing a hydrogen production project. During our conversation, I once again realised one thing: technology alone does not create a successful project.
The company had almost everything.
✔ a location
✔ a source of electricity
✔ hydrogen production technology
But it was missing the most important link in the entire chain.
👉 The future customer.
And this is precisely where, in my view, the real business development of hydrogen projects begins.
During our conversation, we also discussed the production cost of hydrogen.
Under Czech conditions, hydrogen production using electrolysers is currently the most frequently discussed option. Electrolysers have their undeniable advantages, but their economics are significantly influenced in particular by the availability of renewable electricity, the number of operating hours and the overall utilisation of the equipment.
And this is precisely where, in my view, there is room for a different perspective.
👉 The electrolyser is not the problem. The problem is building an economically viable project based on only one technology.
If we want to offer customers a competitive hydrogen price in the long term, I do not believe that relying on a single technology will be the solution.
The key, in my view, could be a suitably designed technology mix that makes use of the strengths of different hydrogen production pathways. The goal is not simply to produce hydrogen. The goal is to produce it over the long term at a price that is competitive for the end customer.
And it is precisely the end customer that we should keep in mind from the very beginning of project design. In most cases, the customer is not interested in which technology was used to produce the hydrogen. What matters to them is whether it is reliably available, at a competitive price, and whether it makes economic sense.
Another idea came up during the discussion that I consider fundamental.
When an idea for a new project emerges today, it does not mean that hydrogen production will begin tomorrow.
First comes the feasibility study.
Then the project documentation.
This is followed by the permitting process.
And only then comes the actual implementation of the technology.
The entire process commonly takes three to five years.
A project therefore needs to be prepared not only for today's conditions, but also for the conditions of the future market.
Over those five years, however, almost everything can change.
- energy prices,
- the price of CO₂ emission allowances,
- technologies,
- and European legislation.
That is why, in my view, it is not right to design a project solely according to the conditions that apply today.
We need to think about the environment in which the project will operate five years from now.
And this is precisely where, in my view, a real competitive advantage emerges.
Companies that start preparing projects today will have a head start by the time those projects are implemented compared with those that wait for “ideal conditions”.
In my view, hydrogen is not only about technology.
It is about a properly designed project.
About connecting production, economics, infrastructure and the future customer.
And it is precisely this preparation that often determines whether a project will work successfully in the long term.
I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
The greatest competitive advantage does not emerge when the technology is being built. It emerges much earlier – at the moment when the project begins to be designed properly.
Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development
Hydrogen Reality XII: What Is Emerging in Bavaria Today? Not Hydrogen Projects, but Energy Ecosystems
In recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to attend several events in Bavaria focused on hydrogen, energy and regional transformation. One of them was a workshop of the EnerTECH+ project at Hof University of Applied Sciences.
And it was precisely there that I once again realised one important thing.
Many people still imagine the future of hydrogen as one specific project – an electrolyser, a hydrogen refuelling station or a hydrogen bus.
But in Bavaria, I saw something different.
The focus here is not only on individual technologies. Increasingly, the question is how to connect energy production, storage, distribution and consumption into one functional system. In other words: it is not only hydrogen projects that are being developed, but entire energy ecosystems.
One example is the new three-year EnerTECH+ project, which brings together the topics of decentralised hydrogen production, energy storage and energy efficiency. At the same time, a new research and demonstration centre is being established that will serve as a living laboratory for testing various energy technologies under real operating conditions.
And it is not only about hydrogen.
The building will combine photovoltaics, wind energy, battery storage, hydrogen technologies, heating and cooling systems, as well as intelligent energy management. The aim is not to test individual technologies separately, but to understand how they interact with one another and how they behave within the overall energy system.
This is precisely where I see one of the most important trends in today's energy sector.
The future will probably not belong to a single technology. It will not be based solely on batteries, solely on hydrogen or solely on renewable energy sources. Successful regions will be those that are able to combine individual technologies appropriately according to their own needs and conditions.
From Technologies to Implementation
During the workshop, one more thing caught my attention.
Most of the discussions did not revolve around the question of whether hydrogen should be used or not. Much more attention was given to how individual technologies can be connected into a functional energy system and how they can be used in practice.
In my view, this represents a fundamental shift.
After years of strategies, studies and plans, discussions are increasingly focusing on concrete solutions, operational experience and possibilities for the real-world deployment of technologies.
Another interesting example was the owner of BTX Energy, who arrived at the workshop in his own second-generation Toyota Mirai. So it was not only about presentations and theoretical discussions, but also about sharing practical experience with hydrogen mobility.
Examples like this help demonstrate that hydrogen is not only a topic for the future, but is already finding concrete applications today.
Cross-Border Cooperation Resonates
The programme also included an interactive workshop focused on future areas of cooperation within the EnerTECH+ project.
Participants proposed topics that the project should address in the coming years and then jointly identified the priorities.
I was very positively surprised by the considerable interest in cross-border cooperation in the field of mobility, particularly in connecting bus and rail transport between the Czech Republic and Bavaria.
This confirmed that the energy transition is not only a question of technologies, but also of cooperation between regions, institutions and people.
This is precisely where I also see significant potential for the Karlovy Vary Region, which, thanks to its location, can play an important role in the development of future cross-border energy and transport projects.
What Am I Taking Away from Hof?
🔹 The future will not be based on a single technology.
🔹 Hydrogen will be one component of a broader energy system.
🔹 Regional cooperation between the Czech Republic and Bavaria has great potential.
🔹 The topic of cross-border mobility and transport generated considerable interest among participants.
🔹 If we want to implement new projects, we need to connect technologies, regions and people.
During the workshop, I once again confirmed for myself that the future of hydrogen is not being created only in laboratories or at conferences. It is being created above all where people from research, industry, public administration and regions meet regularly and work together to find ways to implement concrete projects.
💧 And it is precisely the building of these connections that I consider one of the most important elements in the current development of the hydrogen economy.
I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development
Hydrogen Reality XI: Hydrogen as Part of Energy Self-Sufficiency (Not Just Decarbonisation)
Hydrogen is most often perceived today as a tool for decarbonisation.
And yes – that is its key role.
But it is far from the only one.
👉 Hydrogen is primarily an energy tool. And this brings us to another crucial reason for developing it: energy self-sufficiency and independence.
Europe and Its Dependence
Recent years have shown one thing very clearly:
Europe is heavily dependent on energy supplies from other parts of the world.
Whether it is:
- natural gas
- oil
- other energy commodities
If supply disruptions or geopolitical tensions occur,
👉 the impacts are immediate.
Prices rise. Uncertainty increases. And we feel the consequences very quickly.
An Impact That Affects Us All
A typical example is oil.
Whenever oil prices rise:
- transport becomes more expensive
- transport operators face higher costs
- and subsequently manufacturers face higher costs as well
👉 The result:
Not only more expensive fuel.
But also more expensive goods.
Including food.
This means that even if we do not directly use oil or gas ourselves,
👉 in the end, higher prices affect all of us.
Why Self-Sufficiency Matters
Energy self-sufficiency does not mean complete independence.
But it does mean:
- greater stability
- lower sensitivity to market fluctuations
- greater control over energy prices and availability
👉 And this is exactly where hydrogen comes into play.
Hydrogen as Part of the Solution
Hydrogen has one major advantage:
👉 it can be produced locally.
For example:
- from renewable energy sources
- from biomass and waste
- in combination with other technologies
This means:
- lower dependence on imports
- greater control over production
- the ability to stabilise prices over time
Economics Are Beginning to Change
For a long time, the main argument against hydrogen was its cost.
But this is gradually changing.
Today we see:
- increasing energy prices
- rising carbon allowance (CO₂) costs
- growing pressure to decarbonise industry
👉 The result:
The gap between conventional energy sources (such as natural gas) and hydrogen is gradually narrowing.
In other words:
👉 hydrogen is becoming economically competitive.
And in addition:
👉 it offers greater stability than fossil energy sources that depend on global markets.
What Does This Mean?
Hydrogen is not only about emissions.
👉 It is about system resilience.
👉 It is about price stability.
👉 It is about partial independence from external influences.
Conclusion
Decarbonisation is important.
But on its own, it is not enough.
If we want a stable and functional energy system in the long term, we must address not only decarbonisation but also:
👉 energy self-sufficiency.
And this is exactly where hydrogen has a firm place.
Personally
I see hydrogen as a tool that connects decarbonisation with energy stability and independence.
And it is precisely in this context that I see its greatest added value for future energy and industrial projects across Europe.
I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Energy independence is not an ideology. It is an economic necessity.
Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development
Hydrogen Reality X: A Successful Project in Practice – What Makes the Difference?
🚛 Hydrogen in Transport: Theory vs Reality
In recent months, it has often been said that the adoption of hydrogen in transport is progressing more slowly than expected. Discussions typically focus on cost, infrastructure or insufficient demand.
To a certain extent, all of this is true.
👉 At the same time, another question arises: Is the problem really hydrogen itself – or the way projects are designed?
🧩 Let's Move Beyond Theory
In the previous article, I argued that the problem is not the technology, but implementation.
So let's look at a project where it actually works:
👉 H2 Green Power & Logistics AG
This company demonstrates that hydrogen in transport – including heavy-duty logistics – can work in practice.
And most importantly:
👉 it works not only technically, but also economically.
Not because the technology is different.
But because the entire project is designed differently.
🔑 What Makes the Difference
The basic principle is surprisingly simple:
👉 Projects are not developed in separate parts. They are designed as an integrated system from the very beginning.
This means that:
- hydrogen production
- infrastructure (transport and refuelling)
- specific applications (vehicles and logistics)
- the end customer
- financing
➡️ are all planned and implemented in parallel and as interconnected elements.
⚙️ Technology: Not One Path, but a Mix
Another key difference lies in the approach to hydrogen production.
Many projects today rely on a single solution:
👉 electrolyser + renewable energy sources
However, this approach has its limitations:
- dependence on weather conditions
- fluctuating production
- higher costs
Successful projects therefore take a different approach:
👉 combining multiple technologies
For example:
- renewable energy sources + electrolysers
- complemented by hydrogen production from biogenic sources (biomass and waste)
📊 What This Means in Practice
This approach has significant consequences:
✔ stable 24/7 production independent of weather conditions
✔ better utilisation of equipment
✔ lower production costs
✔ more stable hydrogen prices
👉 which ultimately means:
➡️ lower prices at the refuelling station
➡️ better economics for the end customer
💰 Economics Are Not a Coincidence
People often say:
“Hydrogen is expensive.”
👉 Reality is more precise:
Hydrogen is expensive when the project is poorly designed.
If:
- off-take is not secured
- infrastructure remains underutilised
- production is not optimised
then the economics naturally do not work.
🧠 The Missing Role: Who Connects Everything?
And here we come to one of the most underestimated aspects:
👉 project management as a whole
For such projects to work, there must be someone who:
- connects technology suppliers
- understands both production and utilisation
- communicates with customers
- works with financing and funding mechanisms
- keeps the entire project together
➡️ from the first idea through to implementation.
🌍 What Can the Czech Republic Learn From This?
We have the technologies.
We have the companies.
We have the know-how.
👉 What is often missing is:
- comprehensive project design
- connection of the entire value chain
- and the courage to move into implementation
🚀 Conclusion
Hydrogen in transport is not a question of “yes or no”.
👉 It is a question of how projects are designed to make them work.
If:
- production, infrastructure and utilisation are connected
- a technological mix is applied
- projects are managed as integrated systems
then:
👉 hydrogen can be not only technically viable, but also economically sustainable.
💧 Hydrogen Reality is not about theory.
👉 It is about what we are actually capable of building.
I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development
Hydrogen Reality IX: Hydrogen Is Not the Problem. Implementation Is – Confirmed Directly from Practice
In my previous article, I formulated a simple thesis:
👉 Hydrogen is not the problem. Implementation is.
👉 Last week, I had the opportunity to verify this directly in practice.
I actively participated in the first Energy Platform organised by Central Bohemian Innovation Centre.
This was not a traditional conference. Quite the opposite.
👉 Companies brought concrete challenges from practice
👉 Participants joined discussions based on relevance
👉 And within a few hours, working teams were formed to search for real solutions
The goal was not to present. The goal was to move things towards implementation.
I attended the event thanks to Benon Rychlik, who approached me and eventually convinced me not to come only as a participant, but to bring my own challenge.
Honestly, it was not an easy decision for me.
It was my first event of this kind in the role of an active participant – not only presenting, but also becoming the person around whom a working team was formed.
💡 My challenge
I focused on an area I have been working on for a long time:
👉 How to address industrial energy needs where electrification alone is not sufficient
With a focus on:
- local hydrogen production
- the use of biomass and bio-waste (including sewage sludge)
- circular economy principles
- and real operational, mobility and commercial applications
🤝 What followed
After a short introduction, a team quickly formed around the challenge.
At one table, representatives from:
- research
- industry
- innovation ecosystems
- and additional energy experts
came together.
And the most important part began:
👉 searching for real applications
🔍 What the discussion revealed
It became clear very quickly that the technology itself is not the problem.
Quite the opposite.
The discussion was factual, open and realistic. It was not “enthusiasm for hydrogen”, but rather focused on:
- concrete applications
- economics
- availability of feedstock
- and real limitations
Very interesting ideas also emerged:
👉 the investor does not necessarily have to be an industrial company
→ it could also be a church or municipalities
👉 new input materials
→ for example textile waste (although with questions regarding RED II/III)
At the same time, it became clear that there is major potential in:
👉 local hydrogen production using biomass and bio-waste, especially where production can be directly connected to local consumption and transport minimised.
⚠️ Reality from practice: Ostrava
The discussion with colleagues from Ostrava was also extremely important.
Specific examples were mentioned:
- planned hydrogen buses → not implemented
- hydrogen trains → replaced by another solution
The main reason was economics.
From my perspective, however, the issue is not only the cost of technology.
👉 The key factor is how the project is designed.
- whether the right technology mix is selected
- whether the business model makes sense
- and above all:
👉 whether there is someone who truly manages and coordinates the project
🧠 Where the real problem lies
And this brings us back to the original thesis:
👉 technologies exist
👉 studies exist
👉 interest exists
👉 but projects often remain only on paper
The reason is surprisingly simple:
👉 there is often nobody who can connect everything together and bring it to implementation
Meaning a role that:
- connects technologies
- coordinates partners
- communicates with investors
- works with funding instruments
- and keeps the project functioning as one integrated whole
Without this role, most projects remain stuck in the study phase.
🔧 What I take away from this
For me personally, this was a very intense experience:
- first public appearance in this role
- first leadership of a working team
- first confrontation with cross-sector reality
It was demanding.
But also extremely valuable.
👉 It confirmed to me that:
✔ we have the technologies
✔ we have the ideas
✔ interest exists
👉 but the decisive factor is:
👉 the ability to connect these elements and implement them
🔗 What comes next
If we truly want hydrogen projects to emerge:
👉 it is not enough to focus only on technology
👉 we also need to focus on:
👉 implementation
And this is exactly where I see the greatest potential for the next steps.
📌 (in the photo: output from the workshop team discussion – identification of applications, partners and risks)
I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development
Hydrogen Reality VIII: Hydrogen Is Not the Problem. Implementation Is.
Hydrogen today is not a technological problem. The problem is that we still do not know how to bring it into real projects. And this is exactly where it is being decided what will truly work – and what will remain only on paper.
Where projects realistically get stuck
In practice, the same barriers repeatedly appear:
Mismatch between production and demand
Production capacity exists, but secure off-take is missing. Both sides wait – and the project stalls.
Regulation vs reality
Not every meaningful project meets all regulatory conditions. And not every project that does is economically sustainable.
Missing infrastructure and connectivity
Projects are created in isolation. Links between production, distribution and end use are often missing.
Missing cross-border and interregional cooperation
And yet this cooperation is often the key to connecting resources, demand and infrastructure.
No one holds the full picture
Each stakeholder solves their own part. But the project as a whole often lacks a clear leader.
What is missing most, in my view
👉 Projects are not designed as functional systems from the very beginning.
It is necessary to:
- set up the right partnerships,
- connect the full value chain,
- work with a technological mix.
Not for theory, but for:
- economics,
- year-round operational stability,
- greater self-sufficiency.
One technology alone is rarely enough.
The missing role today
I see a strong willingness to implement projects – both here and in Germany.
But at the same time:
- courage is missing,
- decisions are missing,
- someone is missing who will truly lead the project.
👉 Someone who:
- connects regions and countries,
- aligns investors, technologies and industry,
- and maintains direction from initial concept to implementation.
Without this role, projects often remain in the analysis phase.
The way forward
Not through overly complex mega-projects.
👉 But through smaller, functional models that make sense and can be expanded over time.
Step by step, it becomes possible to:
- scale technologies,
- connect sectors (industry, mobility, energy),
- build infrastructure.
Conclusion
Hydrogen today is no longer a question of “if”.
👉 It is a question of execution.
Start. Stop hesitating. Build the first functional projects.
Personally
Today, I see clear gaps as well as concrete opportunities across Europe.
My vision focuses on how to bring hydrogen to end users – in mobility, industry and other application areas.
But the foundation is always the same:
👉 Build functional infrastructure.
I focus on the development of hydrogen projects and infrastructure strategies in a European context.
This is exactly the principle I work on today – connecting individual components so that projects function as complete systems and can actually be realised.
Hydrogen no longer needs more strategies. It needs implementation.
Kristýna Váchalová
Hydrogen Business Development